116th Brigade Combat Team welcomes new commander
Col. Blake Ortner, far right, watches as Brig. Gen. William R. Phillips, II, the Virginia Army National Guard land component commander, hands the unit colors for the 116th Brigade Combat Team to Col. John Epperly signifying Epperly assumption of command during a traditional change of command ceremony for the Staunton-based unit held June 17 at Fort A. P. Hill. Ortner commanded the 116th BCT since June 2009, including the brigade headquarters deployment to Afghanistan from July 2011 to January 2012. Epperly served as the rear detachment brigade commander for the remaining units still serving in Virginia during the headquarter's deployment. (Photo by Cotton Puryear, Virginia National Guard Public Affairs)
116th Brigade Combat Team welcomes new commander
Col. Blake Ortner, far right, watches as Brig. Gen. William R. Phillips, II, the Virginia Army National Guard land component commander, hands the unit colors for the 116th Brigade Combat Team to Col. John Epperly signifying Epperly assumption of command during a traditional change of command ceremony for the Staunton-based unit held June 17 at Fort A. P. Hill. Ortner commanded the 116th BCT since June 2009, including the brigade headquarters deployment to Afghanistan from July 2011 to January 2012. Epperly served as the rear detachment brigade commander for the remaining units still serving in Virginia during the headquarter's deployment. (Photo by Cotton Puryear, Virginia National Guard Public Affairs)